Oil-cup.



N0. 697,!l0. Patented Apr. 8, I902.

W. E. S. STRONG.

OIL CUP.

(Application filed Apr. 25, 1900.\

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Fig. 1

Zl/Ztnsses: [raven/L07 W E. s. Strung N0. 697MB. Patented Apr. 8, I902. W. E. S. STRONG.

OIL CUP.

(Application filed Apr. 25. 1900.

2 Sheets-Shaat 2 (No Model.)

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" 3o narily preferable in the larger sizes.

x is a plan View in section taken on the line 6 6 NWE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM E. S. STRONG, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE XVINKLEY COMPANY, A CORPORA- TION OF CONNECTICUT.

OIL-CUP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,1 10, dated April 8, 1902.

Application filed April 25, 1900. Serial No. 14,211. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAME. S. STRONG, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Hartford, in the county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil- Cups, of which the followingis a specification. This invention relates to improved devices for supplying oil or other lubricant to bearro ings or journals of machinery of various kinds, the object being to provide a simple and compact oil-cup so constructed that it may be readily opened for the introduction of oil and which when closed will exclude dust, grit, and other foreign substances liable to accumulate on and around the lubricated portions of machinery. I

Figure 1 is a plan View, and Fig. 2 a side view, showing the external appearance of one of these improved cups. Fig. 3 is a side view in section, taken substantially along the line 35 of Fig. 2, showing the interior parts in a closed position. Fig. i is a plan view in Section, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. Fig. 5 is a side view similar to that of Fig. 3, excepting that the cup is shown in its open position for the reception of oil. Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, show a modified form of cup adapted for use as a reservoir-cup, which is ordi- Fig. 6

of Fig. '7, and Fig. 7is a side view, in longitudinal section, showing the cup inits closed position. Fig. 8 is a view like that of Fig. 7, excepting that the cup is shown in its open position. Fig. 9 is a plan view in section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

The form of cup shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, is that ordinarily preferred for the smaller sizes of bearings in which the oil-cup is intended as a cover for the oil-hole of the bearing rather than as a slow-feeding reservoir, as in the case of the forms shown in the subsequent figures. The thimble 10 is substantially a cylinder closed at its upper and open at its lower end, the exterior of the cylinder being ordinarily provided with screwthreads 11 by means of which the thimble may be screwed into a similarly-threaded hole in the bearing. This screw-thread may,

however, be omitted, and the plain lower end of the thimble may be driven into a hole of corresponding diameter drilled in the hearing. The thimble is also provided at or near its upper end with a transverse aperture 12 for the introduction of oil. If the thimble is screw-threaded, as herein shown, it should also be provided with means, as a screwdriver slot13, for screwingitinto the bearing.

As a means for closing the cup when in use against the ingress of dirt and other foreign substancesitis provided with a plunger15,the lower portion 16 of which fits the interior of the thilnble 10, so as to slide freely therein, while the upper portion or stem 17 of the 55 plunger is of reduced diameter and extends upwardly through a corresponding hole in the top of the thimble 10. As a means for holding the plunger in its upper or closed position (shown in Fig. 3) it is provided with a spring 18, located within the thimble and bearing against the bottom of the plunger, the lower portion of the spring resting upon a shoulder 19, preferably formed by spinning or other wise turning the lower edge of the thimble'75 inwardly, which may be done after the plunger and spring are inserted, or the shoulder 19 may be thus formed after the insertion of the plunger and before inserting the spring by forming an angular reeess'20 in the shoul' 8o der 19, substantially agreeing with the spiral of the coiled spring, so that the latter may be screwed into its place and subsequently removed in the same way when desired. In order to allow the oil to flow past the plunger 15, it is provided with one or more ports 22. The area of the port or ports should somewhat eXceed that of the outer aperture 12, so that the oil will flow freely past the plunger into the lower portion of the thimble, and I 0 prefer to employ a plurality of these ports in order to allow the free escape of the air from below. The upper side of the lower portion of the plunger is also preferably provided with an annular recess 23 for increasing the 5 oil-space above the plunger and forming a channel by which the oil flows more readily to the ports 22 without returning through the inlet-aperture 12.

The modifications shown in Figs. 6 to 9, in- 1(0 elusive, are of a nature 'to adapt this improved cup to be made in larger sizes and to serve as a slow-feeding reservoir for the oil. The thimble 26 is provided at its lower end with a reducing stud or bushing 27, which may be attached to the thimble by means of screw-th reads or in any other convenient Way. The lower portion 28 of this stud may be of any diameter convenient for the bearing upon which it is to be employed and may, as stated in connection with" the thimble 10, be threaded as herein shown, or it maybe made plain and driven into the plain hole in the hearing. If threaded, the flange 29 should project and be of square or hexagon form,as herein shown, to enable a wrench to be used thereon. The upper portion of the thimble 26 is provided with an oil-inlet 30, which is closed by means of a plunger 31, the body portion 32 of which fits the interior of the thimble, while the reduced stem 33 extends through a corresponding hole in the upper end of the thimble. This plunger is also provided with ports 34 for the passage of the oil and is resiliently held in its upper or closed position (shown in Fig. 7) by means of a spring 35, which in this construction may rest upon the stud or bushing 27. To enable this form of cup to serve as a slow-feeding reservoir for the oil, it is provided with a feed-tube 36, the lower end of which is driven into the bushing 27, while the upper end extends as far as is allowed by the position of the plunger 31 when the latter is in its depressed position. (Shown in Fig. 8.) The feed-tube may be provided with wicking 37 or any suitable material for feeding the oil by capillary attraction in the usual way.

When these cups are in use, the plunger remains in its upper position, (shown in Figs. 3 and 7,) thus closing the thimble-apertures to prevent the ingress of the dirt and other foreign substances. In filling the cups the operator depresses the plungers l5 and 31 to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 8 while he injects the required amount of oil through the apertures 12 and 30. The oil flows upon the plungers around their stems 17 and 33 and through the ports 22 and 34. into the lower portion of the interior of the thimbles. When the thimble is slotted, as herein shown, it may be screwed into place with an ordinary screw-driver by depressing the upper end of the plunger-stem to the bottom of the slot.

I claim as my invention-- 1. In an oil-cup, the combination of a thimble provided with an oil-receiving aperture at-its side, a longitudinally-movable plunger within the thimble for opening and closing the aperture thereof, one of the said parts being provided with ports for conducting the oil past the plunger when the latter is in its aperture-opening position.

2. In an oil-cup, the combination of a thimble, provided with an oil-receiving aperture at its side and adapted to be attached to a bearing, and a longitudinally-movable plunger within the thimble for opening and closing the aperture thereof, the plunger being provided with ports for the passage of the oil.

3. In an oil-cup, the combination of a thimble provided with an oil-receiving aperture at its side, a push-down plunger within the thimble, for opening and closing the oilreceiving aperture, and having a reduced stem extending through the top of the thimble, means for yieldingly holding the plunger in its aperture-closing position, and ports communicating with the aperture when the plunger is pushed down, for the downward flow of the oil past the plunger.

4. In an oil-cup the combination of a thim ble, provided with an oil-receiving aperture at its side, a longitudinally-movable plunger within the thimble, with its side closing the oil-receiving aperture, the plunger being provided with a reduced stem extending through the top of the thimble, and with a recess in the upper surface of the plunger, having ports leading therefrom for the passage of the oil past the plunger.

Signed at Hartford, Connecticut, this 14th day of April, 1900.

WV. E. S. STRONG.

Witnesses:

WM. H. Homss, BERTHA M. PINNEY. 

